According to the utility, the start-up of the new fuel-oil generator will add 22% to the city’s current installed capacity. The machine has a generation capacity of four times 12.6MW and Endesa said that the equipment will enhance the average yield of the company’s generation assets.
The generator group is sourced from Germany and, according to Endesa, has the most sophisticated features available in the market in terms of efficiency, availability and environmental measures.
The engine was incorporated into Melilla’s electricity system in December 2006, and has successfully passed all the noise and air pollution tests that were recently submitted. Endesa said that the generator is equipped with noise prevention systems and that the chimneys use emission and noise reducing systems.
Endesa hopes that the generator will allow the company to cater for local demand, which is expected to increase by 25% looking forward, as a result of a new desalination plant due to come online in late 2007.
Endesa plans to invest E26 million in Melilla between 2006 and 2009. Approximately E22 million of this will go to new capacity development and almost E3 million will go to modernizing and upgrading existing facilities. An additional E900,000 will be earmarked for environmental and safety initiatives, the company said.
